File tray control plate system

ABSTRACT

A drawer or tray is disclosed for filing and referencing cards or checks or other records. In order to make the cards or other records conveniently available for filing and viewing, the tray includes an adjustable control plate arrangement whereby an infinitely adjustable viewing space or working Vee may be created where desired in the stored cards. The control plate arrangement includes control plates slidably mounted on a longitudinal rod in the tray bottom which provides a position lock for each plate to adjustably hold the plate in a particular viewing position within the drawer.

United States Patent 1191 [111 3 718 232 Moore et al. 1 Feb. 27, 1973 s41 FILE TRAY CONTROL PLATE SYSTEM 1,57l,187 2/1926 De Whalley ..220 225 1,815,826 7/1931 Bergmann ..220/22.3 [751 lnvemrsgzgg a ggy fixz g' 2,042,167 5/1936 B8816! ..220/223 9 a [73] Assignee: Watson Manufacturing Company, 'f' Q -H wood,

Inc Jamestown jssistant EgammerilMliiclfiael Mar ttorne orman 0 an [22] Filed: April 6, 1971 y 21 Appl. No.2 131,690 [571 ABSTRACT A drawer or tray is disclosed for filing and referencing 52 US. Cl cards or checks or other records In order to make the Int Cl 220/22 cards or other records conveniently available for filing and viewing the tray includes an adjustable comm] [58] Field of Search ..220/22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.5 plate arrangement whereby an infinitely adjustable viewing space or working Vee may be created where [56] References Clted desired in the stored cards. The control plate arrange- UNITED STATES PATENTS ment includes control plates slidably mounted on a longitudinal rod in the tray bottom which provides a 511,582 12/1893 Borden ..220/22.5 position lock for each plate to adjustably hold the 2,233,938 3/1941 plate inv a particular viewing position within the 2,261,839 11 1941 Bergmann ..220/223 draw 1,381,491 6/1921 Ohnstrand ..220/22.3

829,750 8/1906 Amberg et a1 ..220/22.5 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBZHSH sum 2 or 2 W W I m m @L O i x I; Q MFP FILE TRAY CONTROL PLATE SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to quick reference filing trays for storing cards or checks or other documents where it is periodically necessary to file or refile cards and to inspect or search through the stored cards to insert or to extract data. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an improved tray of this type having a simplified and conveniently adjustable control plate system for selectively exposing the tray contents.

An enormous amount of information is now routinely filed in trays or file drawers, on tabulator punch cards or checks or other documents, particularly where it is necessary to periodically check through the cards for adding additional data or for extracting data. It is, therefore, desirable not only to provide convenient storage trays, but is also necessary to provide a relatively simple and adjustable means to facilitate the examination of the records in the trays.

At present, there are a variety of such trays of this general type which may include an end or compressor member holding the cards in the drawers and additional control plates which may be inserted and adjusted to facilitate examination. Certain of these control plates have releasable locking mechanisms at their lower portions engaging locking means at the tray bottoms. These known control plates have been found objectionable in some cases in that the bulk or size of the locking members interferes with and tends to reduce the storage capability of the trays. In addition, certain of the present control plates have unduly complex and accordingly expensive positioning means or positioning means which must be moved in definite increments so that they lack the capability of fine adjustment.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved adjustable and simplified control plate arrangement for a card tray.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved control plate arrangement for card indexing trays which may be readily inserted into or removed from otherwise conventional card trays or other file drawers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved control plate arrangement for card trays and other file drawers having a simplified plate positioning or a locking arrangement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control plate system for a card tray where the control plate position is infinitely adjustable.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the card tray in accordance with the present invention, with a group of cards positioned therein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tray of FIG. 1 with the cards removed.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the tray of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the tray taken along line 4-4 on FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views taken along lines 5-5 and 6-6 on FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view illustrating the assembly of the control plate and rods.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detailed sectional view showing a control plate and control rod in locking relation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The control plate system, in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated in the drawings in use with an otherwise typical card index tray or drawer. Such a tray may be arranged for storage in a suitable cabinet, if desired, and may include a suitable handhold on its back and a sliding handle at its front. The tray 1 includes the usual side portions 2 connected by a bottom 3, a front 4, and a back 5.'

The control plate system, in accordance with the present invention, includes an elongated and preferably circular rod 6 which lies below the surface of the tray bottom 3 in a channel 7 and which receives and locks the control plates 8 in a manner which will be described below.

In the tray 1 illustrated, this channel 7 is shown as a conventional pressure block adjusting channel which is included in many typical file trays or drawers. Such trays, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, have hold down channels 10 which receive lugs 11 on a foot member 12 of the sliding pressure plate or block 13. The cross sectional shape of the main channel and the hold down channels may vary, as, for example, with the hold down channels facing outwardly or otherwise. Atypical pressure plate 13, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, includes a generally vertical end plate 14 and a spring-loaded locking arm 15 including a braking shoe 16 for releasably engaging the bottom of the channel to permit adjustment of the pressure plate 13. The control plate system of the present invention does not require the use of the pressure block 13 and, as will be further discussed below, may be conveniently utilized without it. In the case of a tray which is manufactured in the first instance without a pressure block and its related locking channel, a separate upwardly facing channel is preferably provided to receive the control rod 6.

The preferred control plate arrangement and its method of insertion into the tray 1 and its method of use will now be described.

With the tray 1 empty, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the control rod 6 is placed in the general vicinity of the control rod channel 7 and the locking tabs 15 of the control plates 8 are then threaded onto the control rod 6 as they are moved into the rear open portion of the main channel 7. The control plates 8, when used with a control channel 7 having a pair of side channels 10, are seen to include projecting lugs or ears 16 on their locking tabs 15 which fit into the hold down channels 10 as the control plates 8 are advanced onto the control rod 6 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

When the desired number of control plates 8 have been placed on the end of the rod 6 and the rod 6 positioned in the channel 7 with the control plates 8 at its opened end, the control plates 8 may then be positioned in a spaced arrangement along the length of the tray 1 in the general manner indicated in FIG. 2 or they may be otherwise positioned until they are needed in a card filing and data entry or extracting operation.

The pressure plate 13 may then be inserted into the channel 7 in the usual manner, if desired.

The preferred embodiment of the control plates 8 has a shape of the general form illustrated in FIGS. and 7. Each plate 8 is seen to include a generally rectangular card engaging surface and a downwardly depending locking tab 15. The locking tab 15 includes an aperture 17 slightly larger than the control rod 6 to receive the rod together with a pair of the outwardly projecting lugs 16 which are slidably received within the hold down channels 10. The shape of the locking tab 15 as illustrated is used with the inwardly facing hold down channels in the preferred embodiment. Other lug shapes may be used which would correspond to the particular arrangement of the hold down channels which are used in the particular tray being used. The principal function of the lugs 16 is to hold the control plate 8 system within the tray 1 as these lugs 16 on the spaced control plates 8 hold the plate assembly down within the tray 1.

Each of the apertures 17 in the locking tab is proportioned in connection with the control rod 6 diameter to provide a wedging or locking action for each control plate 8 as illustrated in FIG. 8. In utilizing the tray 1 and in viewing the individual cards 18 within the tray, it is preferable to form what is known as a working Vee in the cards in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. This is done by inclining adjacent cards 18 as well as two adjacent control plates 8 with respect to the tray 1 to form the Vee. A convenient angle for each plate 8 from the horizontal is in the neighborhood of about sixty degrees although it may vary considerably depending upon the particular document being stored in a tray. The aperture 17 in the locking tab 15 is formed with a diameter sufficiently larger than that of the rod 6 to lock a tilted plate 8 on the rod 6 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8. When a plate 8 is swung to this position, it is seen that opposite edges 19 and 20 of the plate apertures 17 are wedged against and locked onto the control rod 6. It is also clearly seen that the above described locking arrangement permits the control plate 8 to be tilted in either of the two directions illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8 and it is also seen that the control plates 8 may be positioned at an infinite number of positions along the rod 6 with minor or major variations in the positions of the control plates 8 being readily made. As already indicated, a convenient number of plates 8 may be used with or without the pressure plate 13. Where no pressure plate is used, a control plate 8 may be located at the back of the stack of cards 18.

It will be seen that an improved control plate system has been disclosed which combines relative simplicity with ease of adjustment. A control plate system is provided which may be added to many existing card trays without any change in their structure. Additionally, a control plate system is provided which permits for a ready adjustment of the control plate positions and also for the positioning of the control plates at an infinite number of positions. The system in accordance with the invention also permits the use of differing numbers of plates including any number of plates from one or two to a large number of control plates in a single tray.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a tray for filing items and having an upwardly facing channel in its bottom an improved control plate system comprising the combination of: v

a plurality of control plates extending laterally of said channel across the tray;

a control rod loosely positioned in said channel with both of its ends being free of said tray;

a downwardly extending locking tab on each of said control plates;

an aperture in the locking tab on each of said control plates;

said rod passing through said apertures; and

said apertures being larger than the cross-section of said rod permitting movement of the control plates along the rod and permitting the control plates to tilt between two oppositely inclined positions thereon for providing a working Vee for items filed in said tray.

2. The tray as claimed in claim 1 in which said channel includes a pair of hold down portions, and said control plate having a downwardly extending locking tab including projecting hold down lugs adjustably positioned along the hold down portions of said channel.

3. The tray as claimed in claim 2 in which said hold down tab including said lugs comprises an inverted T- shaped member with said aperture being positioned generally centrally thereof.

4. The tray as claimed in claim 1 which further cornprises a compressor plate having a foot portion adjustably positioned in said channel. V

5. In a filing tray having front and back and sides and a bottom with an upwardly facing channel therein an improved control plate system comprising the combination of:

a plurality of control plates extending laterally of said channel across the tray between said sides;

said channel having a pair of facing hold down portions in its sides;

a locking tab on each of said control plates extending downwardly into said channel and having' a projecting lug extending into each of said hold down portions of said channel;

a control rod loosely positioned in said channel with both of its ends being free of said tray;

an aperture in the locking tab of each of said control plates;

' said rod passing through said apertures; and

said apertures being larger than the cross-section of said rod to permit movement of the control plates along the rod and permitting the control plates to tilt between two oppositely inclined positions thereon for providing an inclinedbacking means for items filed in said tray.

6. The tray as claimed in claim 5 in which said hold down tabs including said lugs comprises inverted T- shaped members with said apertures being positioned generally centrally thereof.

7. The tray as claimed in claim 5 which further comprises a compressor plate having a foot portion adjustably positioned in said channel. 5 

1. In a tray for filing items and having an upwardly facing channel in its bottom an improved control plate system comprising the combination of: a plurality of control plates extending laterally of said channel across the tray; a control rod loosely positioned in said channel with both of its ends being free of said tray; a downwardly extending locking tab on each of said control plates; an aperture in the locking tab on each of said control plates; said rod passing through said apertures; and said apertures being larger than the cross-section of said rod permitting movement of the control plates along the rod and permitting the control plates to tilt between two oppositely inclined positions thereon for providing a working Vee for items filed in said tray.
 2. The tray as claimed in claim 1 in which said channel includes a pair of hold down portions, and said control plate having a downwardly extending locking tab including projecting hold down lugs adjustably positioned along the hold down portions of said channel.
 3. The tray as claimed in claim 2 in which said hold down tab including said lugs comprises an inverted T-shaped member with said aperture being positioned generally centrally thereof.
 4. The tray as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises a compressor plate having a foot portion adjustably positioned in said channel.
 5. In a filing tray having front and back and sides and a bottom with an upwardly facing channel therein an improved control plate system comprising the combination of: a plurality of control plates extending laterally of said channel across the tray between said sides; said channel having a pair of facing hold down portions in its sides; a locking tab on each of said control plates extending downwardly into said channel and having a projecting lug extending into each of said hold down portions of said channel; a control rod loosely positioned in said channel with both of its ends being free of said tray; an aperture in the locking tab of each of said control plates; said rod passing through said apertures; and said apertures being larger than the cross-section of said rod to permit movement of the control plates along the rod and permitting the control plates to tilt between two oppositely inclined positions thereon for providing an inclined backing means for items filed in said tray.
 6. The tray as claimed in claim 5 in which said hold down tabs including said lugs comprises inverted T-shaped members with said apertures being positioned generally centrally thereof.
 7. The tray as claimed in claim 5 which further comprises a compressor plate having a foot portion adjustably positioned in said channel. 